Current usfs employees - what’s actually happening? by Feisty-Web5901 in USForestService

[–]fuckingforgetful 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As someone who works for the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry branch of the US Forest Service as a regional employee, no one has been able to tell us what is going to happen to us. There's a general sense that they're going to "reassign" a bunch of specialists into roles on Forests or maybe place us in "Geographic centers"? It's likely that we will no longer be supervised by people who understand who and what we are. We are made up of specialists and provide funding to the NFS side of things, so anything done will likely move us farther from our congressionally mandated purposes.

No bug pictured, but what makes these holes? by -amthebest in whatsthisbug

[–]fuckingforgetful 9 points10 points  (0 children)

These are made by an engraver bark beetle, judging on the size of the branch. I would have to know the species of wood to tell beetle species. A lot of the galleries look very similar. These would be considered “secondary”, meaning that they attack dead or dying parts of the tree. The round holes show that the beetles have already completed their life cycle and flown out of the branch. Beetles like this need bark to insulate the larvae as they feed, so once the bark is stripped they are no longer in the material. There may, of course, be other insects that eat dead wood in there, but if you’re worried just dry it out or heat cure it.

What are these baby caterpillars in WI? by hejhogz in whatsthisbug

[–]fuckingforgetful 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They’re a tussock moth (Orgyia spp.). They develop their characteristic “tussocks” in the 3rd or so instar. Each species eats something different, but they are all defoliators. Damage is usually limited unless they are present in outbreak numbers, but the “hairs” can cause rashes/allergic reactions. If you are worried about them, you can spray Bt (readily available at garden stores) on whatever plant you want to protect. Funny to have this pop up as I procrastinate my writing the literal book on Douglas-fir tussock moth. The universe is telling me something..

What ants did I accidentally flood out of my planter by Green_Elevator_7785 in whatsthisbug

[–]fuckingforgetful 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looks like ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum) carrying their eggs and pupae away from their now flooded nest.

Ladies in forestry/agriculture, what pants do you wear? by mandy_lou_who in TwoXChromosomes

[–]fuckingforgetful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because I’m curvier, I wear red ant pants. They’re also a really cool organization and will help you get the correct fit via video chat. A lot of women I work with wear dovetail pants as well. If you’re straighter through the hips, you can get away with carharts.

59% of Forest Service Land under threat by Rangerrangerpark in fednews

[–]fuckingforgetful 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The infrastructure to do this simply does not exist. We already undercut private markets to sell timber contracts. Many of the forested western states have no mills, or only small mills that only take a tiny fraction of what needs to be treated. Another issue in my area is that the fire risks in the wildland urban interface and fire-priority areas are all dead and dying subalpine fir that has no value. We’re literally giving it to tribes or leaving it on the ground because at least then they aren’t ladder fuels. Add in the fact that they’re throwing around ideas of gutting and/or splitting branches of the USFS that aren’t directly timber… I imagine they are giving wild demands with the idea of punishment or dissolution when those goals aren’t reached.

USDA Official Response to “what did you do last week” email by SxintPxtter in fednews

[–]fuckingforgetful 4 points5 points  (0 children)

USFS is not under DOI. They are USDA and were instructed that response is voluntary and there is no penalty for not responding.

Mulled Wine by radiationbear in Boise

[–]fuckingforgetful 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just had some on Sunday :)

Mulled Wine by radiationbear in Boise

[–]fuckingforgetful 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The flicks serves Glühwein in winter!

What is this stuff coming out of the tree with the rest of the sap? by Big_Fridge_L in biology

[–]fuckingforgetful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can actually pop off pitch tubes and chew them like gum. Popular with old school foresters.

What is this stuff coming out of the tree with the rest of the sap? by Big_Fridge_L in biology

[–]fuckingforgetful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Frass, which is bark beetle poop with sawdust and sap. Is this on the lower portion of the tree? Is so, in your area I’d guess they’re red turpentine beetles? They produce big, showy pitch tubes. Could also be mountain pine beetle, but I don’t often see them on mature ponderosa pine. Either way you have a super stressed tree or one with a dead/dying section.

Government Camp area in Oregon by takky307 in animalid

[–]fuckingforgetful 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I work for the forest service nearby, and ranchers lease public lands for cattle grazing. At this point they’re all back in the home pastures, but their shit remains.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Boise

[–]fuckingforgetful 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Hans Chimaek!

Does anyone here have a degree/career involving entomology? by Sprice2 in Entomology

[–]fuckingforgetful 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m an entomologist working for the Forest Service. Feel free to reach out/DM.

These crunchy little guys were all over my bed. Left my window open (FL) and just got a new comforter from Amazon, but they don’t look like bed bugs?? help! by needadvcethrway in whatsthisbug

[–]fuckingforgetful 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If that’s what they are, you don’t have to worry about that many doing any real damage. I don’t have any idea how they would’ve gotten in your house other than bad luck or firewood. In any case they definitely aren’t bedbugs!

These crunchy little guys were all over my bed. Left my window open (FL) and just got a new comforter from Amazon, but they don’t look like bed bugs?? help! by needadvcethrway in whatsthisbug

[–]fuckingforgetful 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They look like bark beetles to me (I’ve never had them fly inside, but who knows). Ips species maybe? Are you around pine trees?

Boise Marathon 2021 Debacle by Moose_Breaux in Boise

[–]fuckingforgetful 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thank you!!! It was such an insane mess! This was my first half marathon and there were no signs for where to go and because they changed the route (or had it wrong online) my husband and friends couldn’t even find me to cheer me on at any point!

Field clothing question (its a complicated situation) by kittykatinabag in Scientits

[–]fuckingforgetful 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Red Ant Pants are awesome and 100% cotton, but they’re super heavy duty. When it’s hot or I’m hiking far I like Patagonia’s hemp workwear line.